An internal investigation is underway out after a patient waited more than 90 days for cancer treatment after being urgently referred to the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston.

The target is for 85 per cent of patients to receive treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral, and the hospital trust met that target for the month of June, but failed to meet it overall for the quarter.

Two people waited longer because of 'consultant sickness', according to a report.

The JPUH Board of Directors heard at a meeting on July 31 how one patient waited four days longer than the target, while another waited 34 days longer, which was described as 'avoidable'.

Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors Peter Franzen described the situation as 'just shocking'.

Director of Performance and Planning Andrew Palmer said that although the target set to the hospital was 85 per cent, the Trust's approach would be 'zero tolerance' on delays in cancer treatment.

A report to the Board of Directors said the case of the patient who waited 34 days over the target was 'being investigated within the Trust'.